I started my first week of #QuarterLifeCrisisTour2016 in the city I initially visited back in 2014 – Manila, Philippines. Before venturing out into unfamiliar territories, I thought there would be some level of comfort in starting this long journey in a familiar place with some familiar faces. I have fond memories of Manila, especially because of one of my best bros, Kristoff, played an amazing tour guide and host during my initial visit in 2014. Continue reading On Manila

I fully realize this is the most Millennial thing I’ve ever done, which is why I’m jokingly naming this trip the #QuarterLifeCrisisTour2016. In case you’re worried, I’m not really going through a crisis – this is a trip I’ve been thinking about doing ever since High School (thanks, Mr. Levering). The timing just couldn’t have come at a better time. Continue reading On #QuarterLifeCrisisTour2016

This week I gave my notice to the best job I ever had. It’s been around 15 months since I first joined UXPin, but my last day will be on September 2nd. For the following four and a half months, I’ll be traveling all over Asia – a trip I’ve wanted to do ever since I first read Vagabonding, by Rolf Potts, in high school.

Coming to this decision was incredibly difficult. I noticed that people who do these kinds of trips usually hate their jobs. I, on the other hand, quite enjoyed working for UXPin. I have never come across a company that treated its employees so well. I absolutely loved the problem we were trying to solve and the people I was solving it with. I was learning so much from the VP of Product and the CEO, both of whom I consider to be close mentors. With that said, I was faced with the decision of either moving back up to Mountain View for at least another year or going abroad. I picked the latter. Continue reading On quitting UXPin

For the past few months, I’ve been spending every Sunday writing a short blog post on a myriad of topics. Several friends reached out to express their enjoyment with the pieces, which was incredibly encouraging, so I want to share why I’m trying to make this into a habit. Continue reading On writing and being embarrassed

Yesterday marked the 4th annual SoCal UX Camp, an event attended by more than 400 individuals who are passionate about the field of User Experience. To my knowledge, SCUXC remains the biggest free UX event in Southern California. It’s quite amazing, actually. When events in the UX industry costs thousands of dollars just for a few days of content, we have to wonder if we’re creating higher ladders for those who are trying to enter the field. Perhaps those other conferences are designed intentionally, keeping the beginners out while milking the training budgets from as many companies as they can. Continue reading Reflections on SoCal UX Camp 2016

This is Part 1 of X on how I got started in the UX Design field. These series of posts are not intended to be an “How-to Guide” to start a UX career, but rather to demonstrate that there’s no “right way” to become a UX practitioner.

“So what the hell is it that you do?”

That was my friend Michelle’s response when I told her I was moving to Silicon Valley in May of 2015. Having graduated from college in 2013, I was pretty discreet about my work plans until that moment, particularly because I was unemployed or under-employed following my exit from the Notre Dame bubble. It would take me a little more than two years before I landed a full-time job in User Experience Design.